[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50447-50448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19494]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration


Request for Nominations for Members of Public Advisory Committee; 
Food Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting 
nominations for members to serve on the Food Advisory Committee (the 
Committee) in FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
(CFSAN) and six subcommittees. Nominations will be accepted for current 
vacancies and vacancies that will or may occur on the Committee during 
the next 12 months.
    FDA has special interest in ensuring that women, minority groups, 
and individuals with disabilities are adequately represented on 
advisory committees and, therefore, encourages nominations from these 
groups. Final selection from among qualified candidates for each 
vacancy will be determined by the expertise required to meet specific 
agency needs and in a manner to ensure appropriate balance of 
membership.

DATES: September 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES: All nominations for membership should be sent to Catherine 
M. DeRoever (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regarding all nominations for 
membership: Catherine M. DeRoever, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition (HFS-6), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch 
Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 301-436-2397, FAX 301-436-2633, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FDA is requesting nominations for members to 
serve on the advisory committees listed below. Individuals should have 
expertise in the activity of the Committee. Vacancies will begin June 
30, 2002.

Food Advisory Committee

    The Committee provides advice primarily to the Director, Center for 
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), and as needed, to the 
Commissioner of Food and Drugs (the Commissioner), and other 
appropriate officials, on emerging food safety, food science, 
nutrition, and other food-related issues that FDA considers of primary 
importance for its food and cosmetics program. The Committee may be 
charged with reviewing and evaluating available data and making 
recommendations on matters such as those relating to: (1) Broad 
scientific and technical food or cosmetic related issues, (2) the 
safety of new foods and food ingredients, (3) labeling of foods and 
cosmetics, (4) nutrient needs and nutritional adequacy, and (5) safe 
exposure limits for food contaminants. The Committee also may be asked 
to provide advice and make recommendations on ways of communicating to 
the public the potential risks associated with these issues and on 
approaches that might be considered for addressing the issues.
    The Committee was restructured on July 28, 2000, to consist of a 
``parent'' Committee and four standing Subcommittees. The Subcommittees 
are as follows: (1) Additives and Ingredients, (2) Contaminants and 
Natural Toxicants, (3) Dietary Supplements, and (4) Food Biotechnology. 
Two additional Subcommittees are being added to the ``parent'' 
Committee: (1) Infant Formula, and (2) Nutrition.
    The purpose of the new Subcommittees is to provide highly 
specialized expertise in the review and analysis of assigned topics. 
Meetings of the subcommittees will be open to the public except as 
otherwise determined by the Commissioner or designee. The 
Subcommittee's findings, conclusions, and recommendations will be 
reported to the ``parent'' Committee. As a general matter, included in 
this report will be a recommendation(s) from the Subcommittee on the 
final disposition of an assigned topic. Generally, matters that cross-
cut agency program areas will fall under the purview of the ``parent'' 
Committee. Issues relating to the microbiological safety of food will 
be addressed by the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological 
Criteria for Foods.

Criteria for Members

    Persons nominated for membership on the Committee shall be 
knowledgeable in the fields of physical sciences, biological and life 
sciences, food science, risk assessment and other relevant scientific 
and technical disciplines. The agency particularly is interested in 
considering candidates with a comprehensive background in food 
technology, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, and a variety 
of medical specialties, as many issues brought before the Committee 
involve medical or epidemiological impact on nutrients, additives, 
contaminants, or other constituents of the diet, such as dietary 
supplements. The term of office is up to 4 years.
    The Committee includes technically qualified members who are 
identified with consumer interests and representatives of industry 
interests.

Nomination Procedures

    Interested persons may nominate one or more qualified persons for 
membership on the Committee. Nominations shall state that the nominee 
is willing to serve as a member of the Committee and appears to have no 
conflict of interest that would preclude Committee membership. 
Additionally, the nominee's mailing address, telephone number, and 
curriculum vitae must accompany the nomination. The agency cannot 
guarantee further consideration of nominations that do not include this 
requested information. Potential candidates will be asked by FDA to 
provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial 
holdings, employment, consultancies, and research grants and/or 
contracts to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflicts of 
interest.

Industry Representatives

    Regarding nominations for members representing industry interests, 
a letter will be sent to each person or

[[Page 50448]]

 organization that has made a nomination and to other organizations 
that have expressed an interest in participating in the selection 
process together with a complete list of all such organizations and the 
nominees. The letter will state that it is the responsibility of each 
nominator or organization that has expressed an interest in 
participating in the selection process to consult with their peers to 
provide their selections representing industry interests within 60 
days. In the event that selections have not been provided to FDA within 
60 days, the Commissioner may select an industry representative for 
each such vacancy from the list of industry nominees. The agency is 
interested in nominees that possess the scientific credentials needed 
to participate fully and knowledgeably in the Committee's deliberations 
and had special insight into, and direct experience in, specific 
industrywide issues, practices, and concerns that might not otherwise 
be available to others not similarly situated.
    This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. app. 2) and 21 CFR part 14, relating to advisory committees.

    Dated: July 23, 2002.
Linda Arey Skladany,
Senior Associate Commissioner for External Relations.
[FR Doc. 02-19494 Filed 8-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S